If you want to know what you’re looking at, then you need CONTEXT.

We should be reading the Bible book-by-book, not simply chapter and verse.

The MISSION 27 discipleship process:
1. Listen to the Sunday sermon
2. Read the entire book, gospel, or letter during the week
3. Answer the weekly questions
4. Process Together by attending a LifeGroup with others

Four separate gospels provide a more complete picture of Christ:
· Mark saw Jesus as “The Son of Man”
· Matthew saw Jesus as “The King of the Jews”
· Luke’s gospel presents Jesus as “The Savior of the World”
· John rounds things out with Jesus, “The Son of God”

A more complete picture of Jesus:
• Mark = What Jesus DID
• Matthew & Luke = What Jesus SAID
• John = Who Jesus WAS

MATTHEW’S GOSPEL TO THE JEWS
Matthew intends to prove to the Jews that Jesus Christ is the promised Messiah.

MATTHEW’S PRESENTATION OF WORDS AND DEEDS
As you read the Gospel of Matthew this week, take note of the words Jesus shares, but also look at how Jesus acted and how He ministered.

MATTHEW PROVES THAT JESUS IS THE FULFILLMENT
Jesus is the God of the Old Testament every bit as much as He’s the God of the New Testament.
Matthew portrayed Jesus as the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies.

In the end, we discover that this Gospel of Matthew helps bring the Old Testament and the New Testament together, and it also brings Jews and Gentiles together.

1. As you read the Gospel of Matthew this week, notice every time the word fulfill or fulfillment is used and why it’s used.
2. Go back to the Old Testament passage and see it for yourself.

STUDY & DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. Matthew demonstrates how Jesus ministered in both word and deed.
Read Matthew 7:21-27 again.
Do you see the difference between hearing God’s Word and living it out? What best describes you: hearing, doing, or both?

2. Circle or underline each time Matthew uses the term “fulfill”, “fulfilled,” or “fulfillment.” (Hint: there are 16 times and the first use in in Matthew 1:22)
Why does Matthew keep using this phrase when describing Jesus?
Why is this important to the Jews, to the church, and to you?
Can you explain from Scripture how Jesus is the promised Messiah?